It came fast. Green storm clouds reared up over the hill just behind us. It was a mad dash to put away gardening tools, check that the birds were OK, race inside as heavy drops plopped down on hot paving and ominous rumbles were met almost immediately with the flash of lightning. Suddenly the skies opened and the winds howled. Holy shit! It was like a freight train crashing through. Actually it was more like a large palm tree and an ancient gum tree crashing through. Vale old shed. You served us well … until you and all your contents were smashed to pieces.

It’s a little difficult to go light and summery in a black bedroom. Here’s my attempt at a little lightening up without actually buying anything new. (Note that I don’t make my bed that often.) I’m thinking I might take up the flokati as the weather gets warmer.

Now that the house is painted it’s time to work on the outdoor areas. I love gardening, well lazy gardening. I’m not one for formal hedges and lots of flowers I have to dehead. I’m more of a rambling rainforest look. When we first moved in the garden was a hot, barren mess. Thankfully we had two stands of golden cane palms but they were sad and neglected and a brick paved driveway that adds a little structure to the garden. Lots of plants, water and patience later and we have made some significant progress. We haven’t spent much money. Most of what we have planted were pot plants I already had (plant liberation I call it) and cuttings from friends and from the plants we had established. We have found a wonderful plant resource here in Ipswich. The Salvation Army has a farm and nursery where the unemployed gain experience raising plants and selling them at bargain prices. Did I tell you I love bargain prices?

A little colour via the Salvation Army

Slowly we have worked from one area to the next, concentrating our efforts to make one section lush before moving on to the next. There is a long way still to go but what a change over 5 years. One of the first things I did after the house was painted was to move a table and chairs onto a small “patio” area we have just outside the breezeway and kitchen. I ignored this area for so long because I hated the mismatched, flakey paint. The house looked so tired. Not anymore.The chairs are replicas but Kelvin did pick them up from a Big Brother house auction. The table is a vintage Vico Magistretti Stadio 120 bought from for a song. I still need to do a few things. Those security screens have to go. Who ever thought they were good looking in the first place? Yuck! I need more plants in pots to “lush” it out and a cover for the AC unit. The lightbulb needs to be changed out to something a bit funkier.

Elkhorns on the palms. A friend had a large elkhorn they didn’t want anymore so I chopped it up and spread it around. They are finally getting to a good size.

Training hoyas up the palm trunks.

A pre-painting picture. The bird cages have been moved down the back under the bamboo trees we planted and the area where they were is being planted out with elephant ears and walking iris. You can see some of the white chairs in their old home in front of the unused carport. That’s one of the next projects. Needs a paint and big pot plants along the bottom of the cane blinds which screen Kelvin’s workshop. We don’t have a car so don’t need it for that use. I’d like to make it a cabana but Kelvin says he needs the space for his tools etc.

A couple more shots pre-painting.

Looking back up the driveway before painting. You can see the compressor we used to power wash the walls. All of this was bare and blasted by the sun when we first moved in as you can see in the photo below.

You can see from these old photos of the stables taken soon after we moved in that there was little to no garden just outside. A lot different now … as is this space which is serving as dressing room at the moment until we convert it to a bathroom.

The weather bureau is predicting a top temperature of 41 degrees on Friday, actual not “feels like”. I hope my little garden doesn’t get too burnt! I better make sure I keep the water up for the next few days to give it a helping hand.

A Canadian and an Australian trying to inspire the world, one room at a time. An interior design junkie’s delight!